4dancers – Page 125

INTUIT Dance Studio

June 29, 2009 by 4dancers

INTUIT

Those living in the Chicagoland area may want to check out INTUIT Dance if they want to take a really good class. Studio Director, Diane VanDerhei has a top-notch background, and has hired instructors with impressive credentials. The atmosphere at this studio is creative and fun, and there is even an excellent adult ballet class. Other offerings include belly dance, yoga and hip hop. Located in Oak Park, IL, the first suburb west of Chicago.

5 Tips For Better Turns

June 11, 2009 by 4dancers

: Copyright 2006, Catherine L. Tully

Many dancers find that turns are a difficult part of dance. If you don’t take to turns naturally, there are some things that you can do to improve. Here are five tips for getting those pirouettes on track:

Practice spotting. Learning how to spot well can take some time. Dance Teacher magazine has a great article online here that explains the details on how to get the most out of this technique for not getting dizzy while you turn.
Get feedback. Listen to what your teacher tells you about your turns and try to apply it. This can be difficult, because you can’t see your body at the same time you are turning. Still, your teacher can work with you to correct any problems they see with your turns.
Pay attention to your body. If you are always falling forward out of your turns, you may need to keep your shoulders back more or watch that you are not looking down at the ground. If you are falling backward, see if you are raising your arms too high or letting your back sway. Whatever the problem is with your turn, it will also help give you a clue as to what the solution may be.
Watch and learn. Keep watching those who turn well and see what they do to prepare and execute their turns. If you learn visually this will be especially helpful.
Be patient. Turns are one of the most difficult things to master. Don’t get discouraged; if you keep practicing, they will improve!

Dancers: What's Your Learning Style?

June 7, 2009 by 4dancers

Do you know what kind of a learner you are? If so, you can pick up choreography more easily by focusing in on your own particular style. There are three basic types of learners:

Visual. If you fall into this category, it means you will pick things up from watching them. For example, a choreographer shows you the step and you are able to copy it from seeing them do it. These dancers are often a quick study.
Auditory. Auditory learners listen to the words a choreographer or teacher speaks to string the steps together. These dancers tend to be able to apply corrections easily, since most people deliver them in verbal form.
Kinesthetic.Think of this type of learning as “repetitive”. Kinesthetic learners need to do the movements over and over again to get them down. While this type of learning is more time-consuming, once the steps are “in their muscles,” these dancers don’t have to think about them anymore and can concentrate on fine-tuning their work.

Does one of the above sound like you? Many people don’t fit neatly in to just one category but if you can identify the way that you learn, it means you can focus in on that–and get the most out of your dancing.

Irish Step Dancer Tote Bag

May 27, 2009 by 4dancers

This unique Irish Step Dancer Tote Bag was silk-screened by hand and is in limited supply. Measuring approximately 10.5 x 13.5 inches, it is perfect for carrying shoes and other accessories. Also makes a great gift. I’ll leave this one up, but if the link is no longer working, contact the e-bay seller here and ask if they have any more.

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